A British woman who claims to be the inspiration for the stalker character in the hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer has filed a lawsuit against the streaming service, demanding $170 million (about R$894 million) in damages.
Fiona Harvey introduces herself as the real “Martha”, the delusional, violent and abusive woman at the heart of the global phenomenon created and starring Richard Gadd, which she claims in its opening episode to be a “true story”.
The lawsuit filed in California, USA, says this statement is “the biggest lie in the history of television.”
“It is a lie told by Netflix and series creator Richard Gadd out of greed and a desire for fame; The text adds: “A lie designed to attract more viewers, attract more attention, make more money, and violently destroy plaintiff Fiona Harvey’s life.”
“We intend to vigorously defend this case and defend Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement.
The seven-episode series premiered in April and quickly gained a huge audience. In the film Baby Reindeer, based on a monologue by Gad, a fictionalized version of the author Donnie meets a woman at the bar where he works.
What unfolds throughout the narrative is a disturbing ordeal that lasts for years, as Martha sends thousands of emails, text and voice messages to the protagonist, his girlfriend, and his family.
Martha, who according to the series had previously been convicted of stalking a lawyer, also sexually assaults Donnie.
Gadd told reporters he had changed details about Martha to protect her identity, but internet “sleuths” quickly discovered Fiona Harvey and began contacting her via social media.
She has since appeared on British television denying that she bombarded Gad with messages or attacked him and his girlfriend.
“Defendants told these lies and never stopped because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories make money,” the lawsuit says. “And Netflix, the billion-dollar multinational entertainment company, has done literally nothing to confirm the ‘true story’ told by Gad.”
The lawsuit alleges defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence, among other claims, and seeks $170 million.
